Some Thursday Randomness

Movies
Took our son to see Finding Dory a couple of weeks ago and of all the previews this one was the one I most wanted to see.


I probably won't see Suicide Squad until it comes out on DVD but still looking forward to it. So far Harley Quinn is my favorite character.


Random Stuff
Artist Martin Vargic creates different maps, which can be seen on his website or in his book Vargic's Miscellany of Curious Maps: Mapping the Modern World I really like the look of his Map of Literature.

Here are some interesting bookshelves just because...

Coffin Bookshelf
Pinterest

Viking Ship
Pinterest

ART
Saw these first on Colossal (Site). Artist  Alfred Basha (Facebook) mixes trees and animals to make some beautiful images.

Happy 4th of July

SUSAN BRACK ART SHOP
(Esty)

4th of July Fun Facts

• In a bizarre, though perhaps apt, twist of fate, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826. 
• "Americans began observing the Fourth of July as early as 1777, when the first-ever major celebration in Philadelphia included a parade, a thirteen-shot cannon salute and fireworks, but Congress didn’t make it official until 1870, when it was part of a bill passed to recognize major state holidays at a federal level -- like Independence Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day," according to TIME magazine.
• July Fourth is the "biggest hot dog holiday of the year," according to TIME magazine, with Americans reportedly consuming about 155 million of them on Independence Day alone. 
• The stars on the original American flag were in a circle so all the Colonies would appear equal.
• The most common patriotic-sounding word used within place names is “union” with 136. Pennsylvania, with 33, has more of these places than any other state. Other words most commonly used in place names are Washington (127), Franklin (118), Jackson (96) and Lincoln (95).

Some Thursday Randomness

I haven't done one of these in awhile. Some old stuff and some newer stuff to peruse.

Art
Lips Art by Jazmina Daniel (instagram)

While looking for dragons came across Alvia Alcedo (DeviantArt) not only is there great artwork, you can get the artwork on jewelry.

Tropical Fairy Dragon
by Alvia Alcedo (DeviantArt)

Red Mountain
by Alvia Alcedo (DeviantArt)

Art By Aelia (Esty)

Reading Lists
Just a couple of articles I found on Epic Reads. One is the best YA book trailers of all time and the other is YA Fairy Tale retellings. These are just a few of my favorites from each list.
Trailers (website)
Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger. The quirky feel to this trailer goes so well with the series.


A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. This made me really want to read this book and would watch it if it was a series.

YA Retellings (website / graphic)
I realized that I've read some from most of the categories but the most has been from Little Red Riding Hood, which surprised me.

Goodreads

One of my favorite authors or retelling is Jessica Day George. This series is a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses

Goodreads

Some Thursday Randomness

Around the House

I like weird, quirky, unique things. Especially household items. Came across the site Medieval Collectibles (website) and wanted just about everything.

Dragon Bookends
(website)

Dragon Cross Table
(website)

Geared Steampunk Dragon
(website)

ART

Wizard - Blood and Fire Hydra (fan art)
by  DarkAkelarre (DeviantArt)

Shenlong the rainbringer
by  VampirePrincess007 (deviantart)

Books
I'm always looking for new books. I came across this series by Naomi Novik called Temeraire. It is an alternate history series based on the Napoleonic Wars but with dragons. The first book is His Majesty's Dragon.(Goodreads)

Haven't read any of these books but the video is cute.

Some Thursday Randomness

Randomness

The Oxford English Dictionary has a birthday word generator. It will tell you a word that first showed up in the year you were born. Mine was "Nip and Tuck". You can find the generator here (website).

I enjoy watching a good lip sync battle. Add that to Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) doing Britney Spears in outfit and I cannot wait to see this one tonight (Thursday on Spike).

Art

Butterfly Effect
by JanainaArt (deviantArt)

I found Becca (Dragons and Beasties)when looking around Deviant Art. She makes some gorgeous (and just plain cute) sculptures.

Taco Dragons
by Dragons and Beasties (DeviantArt)

Gem Dragons
by Dragons and Beasties (DeviantArt)

Rainbow Unicorns
by Dragons and Beasties (DeviantArt)

Books
One of my favorite authors is Sherrilyn Kenyon. She is also one of the first authors I read that was geared more towards fantasy than straight romance or mysteries. My favorite character from her Dark Hunter series has always been Nick. I'm ready for his YA series to catch up to where they are in the DH world. New book comes out in May of this year.


Buzzfeed had a list of the 41 Most Suspenseful books. I've been getting back into this genre after straying away for a few years. Found some new ones and others that I've already read and loved.

Some Thursday Randomness

Around the Web Shops
Hot Topic has a collection called DC Comics Bombshells (website). I don't wear dresses but the ones they have are cute. My favorite was the Harley Quinn aviator jacket.

Jasmine Becket-Griffith is one of my favorite artists. HautTotes (Esty) has a large selection of her artwork on their bags.

TV/Movies
Tristan Eaton did some street art based on Atom from Dc's Legends of Tomorrow. I'm liking this show so far. Not fully caught up but still good.


Disney revealed some of the new characters that will be showing up in Finding Dory (website). The otters were my favorites.

Art

Summer Landscape-Twilight
by pin 100 (deviantArt)

Ying Yang
by Juneau 88 (deviantArt)

Mother
by TsaoShin (DeviantArt)

HTTYD: The Wind Waker
by TsaoShin (DeviantArt)

Some Thursday Randomness

Movies
The trailer for the live action Jungle Book has been out since last fall but I missed it somehow. The actors that voice the animals took some shots with their onscreen animals. Saw these on Alternative Disney on Facebook (here)

Giancarlo Esposito voices Akela

Idris Elba voices Shere Khan

Scarlett Johansson voices Kaa

Art
Mixed media art created inside boxes by Allison May Kiphuth (website)

The Meeting 2015

The Spectators 2015

Book Stuff
Epic Reads (full list) posted a list of YA books featuring Jinn (in all forms). This is not a character that I've read a lot of but usually enjoy when they show up (even if it's to cause trouble for the main characters). I've only read one on the list (A Whole New World) and didn't care for it but that had more to do with the main characters rather than Genie.

I like the looks of The Jinni Wars by Amber Lough and The Secret of Ka by Christopher Pike.

Some Thursday Randomness

Movies
I've posted about this movie before, and even though these clips are similar, I enjoy hearing Alan Rickman's voice.

Around the Web
Web Urbanist did a list of 15 Amazing Monasteries. Loved the look of most of them but this was my favorite.
Sanctuary of Truth, a Wooden Wonder in Pattaya, Thailand

ART

Alice
by Jerry8448 (deviantart)

Steam Punk Alice in Wonderland
by  rebelakemi (deviantart)

Some Thursday Randomness

Fun Stuff
My BookMark (website) has created some unique bookmarks that go can go along with your favorite books. These are a couple of my favorites...

I love fun stuff for the home so when I came across a pic of these peacock tea cups I had to find out where they came from. Found them on Home Designs 99 (website) along with some other cool stuff.

Art
Artist Even Amundsen has come up with designs for a  Nordic school of myth and magic set in the Harry Potter universe. You can find his work on Art Station (website)

Mumrikk Stigandur
Professor of Herbology

Grimstav Draugsleiven
Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts

TV
A lot of my favorite reality shows have started new seasons since the calendar turned. The main tow are Face Off on syfy and Top Chef on Bravo.
I usually have picked a favorite artist by this point in the season but so far no one's work has really grabbed me. There have been a few good creations but most just have been blah.


On Top Chef I never seem to agree with the judges. Granted I can't taste the food so it's just based on how much I dislike a contestant but still. This season I am so ready for Phillip to be gone, he is ruining the whole season for me.